There are two types of crocodiles in Australia - salt water and fresh water. The fresh water crocodiles are smaller, with pointed snouts and pose little danger to humans.

Crocodiles and alligators, how do you tell them apart?
Alligators have rounded snouts while crocs have pointed snouts.

Salt water crocodiles grow over 20 feet long, are often found in fresh water rivers and streams, and man is definitely on their diet.

Americans first became familiar with Australia's crocodiles when the movie "Crocodile Dundee" came over the oceans. Then Steve Irwin, also known as the "Crocodile Hunter," brought his televised animal series to America and popularized all of Australia's animals.

It is difficult to estimate how old saltwater crocodiles get. Most animals live longer in captivity, because they do not have to worry about being eaten by another animal. But these crocs have no enemies, although they occasionally fight one another. They remain motionless for hours waiting for their prey to wander too close to escape. They are cold blooded animals, so it is possible for them to eat only one large meal that will last them an entire year.

An American alligator's rounded snout.

Are these crocs the oldest animals on earth?
The land tortoise is probably the longest living animal.

Actually, it is difficult to estimate the age of any of the longer-living animals, because those people in charge of keeping the records all die before the animal dies. It is thought that parrots, large tortoises, and crocodiles are among the longest living animals, possibly surviving past 100 years in the wild.

Tortoises are virtually impregnable with their hard shells and heavy bodies. The tortoise just pulls its head and legs inside the shell and waits for the predator to go away. It is believed that they can live more than 150 years. And parrots spend their time in the trees, where the only predators of consequence are snakes. Parrots can grow quite large, however, and the tree snakes are usually looking for much smaller birds. So parrots, too, have little to worry about when it comes to predators.

Unlike America's alligators that are dangerous to humans mostly by myth, salt water crocodiles are dangerous to humans in fact. But other Australian reptiles also pose a danger to people. Whereas most of America's snakes are not venomous, most of Australia's snakes are VERY venomous.


As always, down in one gulp!

But here again, snakes would rather just avoid humans. Even the very poisonous sea snakes will just swim around a human, so long as the human does not reach out to grab the snake.


A venomous sea snake!

The more you know about animals, the safer you will be around those animals.


Return to Australia.


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